Mail-case.



PATENTED, APR. 3, 1906.

A. ROBINSON. MAIL CASE.

APPLIOATION FILED 001'. 16,1905.

L W4 M ARTHUR ROBINSON, OF CLEAR LAKE, MINNESOTA.

MAIL-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Iatented April 3, 1906.

Application filed October 16, 1905. Serial No. 283,055.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clear Lake, in the county of Sherburne and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cabinets designed especially for use on mail-delivery vehicles, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character which may be readily positioned on the vehicle, one in which the mail-matter maybe properly arranged for convenient delivery, and one wherein the contents of the cabinet is effectually protected and prevented from disarrangement during transportation.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on aline centrally and longitudinally through the letter holding compartment. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the letter-feeding device. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the feet or standards and its socket. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the other foot or standard. Fig. 6 is a detail front elevation, on a small scale, of the casing. Fig. 7 is a detail section longitudinally through the letter receiving drawer.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a box or cabinet composed, preferably, of sheet metal and comprising a top wall 2, bottom 3, end. walls 4, and a side wall 5, said cabinet being preferably of the form shown, whereby its top and bottom are pitched at a downward inclination from front to rear, and having its open front side 6 provided with a curtain 7 of the spring-roller type, adapted for closing said side of the casing, as more fully hereinafter explained. Fixed in the casing 1 is a vertical partition 8 and a horizontally-inclined partition 9, these partitions serving to divide the casing into a plurality of compartments 10, 11, and 12, of which the compartment 10 is designed to receive in superposed relation flatly-folded newspapers or the like, while the compartment 11 is adapted for the reception of packages, rolled analogous mail-matter, there being arranged in the compartment 10 a false bottom 13, perforated to permit dust and the like to settle 1 papers, and

therebeneath to obviate damaging the 0011- tents of the compartment.

The compartment 12, which is divided into a pair of sections by means of a central partition 14, has movably fitted in one of its compartments a box or receptacle 15, provided on itsiupper wall with a bail or folding l1andle and having a drawer 16 for the reception of the mail-carriers books, papers, &c., a stamp and supply drawer 17, a money-drawer 18, and a drawer 19 to receive letters collected while en route, this latter drawer being provided in its front wall with a slot 20, through which the letters may be introduced Without opening tlie drawer and which is protected by the hand piece or pull 21. The receptacle is provided with a sliding door 21, adapted to close over the front of the drawers when not in use.

Removably fitted in the second portion or section of the compartment 12 is a box or receptacle 12 for letters to be delivered while en route and which has a transparent front portion or wall 22 and contains a pressure device 23, comprising a pair of spaced irregularly-bent springs 24, connected relatively by means of bearing members or rollers 25, journaled in the coils and at the axes of the sections of the springs, which latter bear at their rear ends 011 the rear wall of the box 12 and are engaged at their forward ends with a presser plate or board 26, arranged to travel in rear of the letters within the compartment, it being noted that the rollers 25 in practice bear against the adjacent faces of the partitions 8 and 14 to relieve the pressure device of friction and for guiding the same in its movements.

The casing 1 is sustained by legs or standards 27 28, arranged in pairs and joined at their upper ends by a connecting-piece 29, formed integral with the leg and adapted to be secured by suitable fastening members to the bottom 3, the front leg 27 of each pair being provided. adjacent its lower end with a transverse notch or recess 30, adapted for engagement with a plate or keeper 31, while the legs 28 each have at their lower ends a pair of opposed transverse notches or recesses 32, forming a T-head, which engages aslot 33, formed in a plate or keeper 34, which latter, together with the keeper 31, is attached to the vehicle-sill 35.

Attached to the partition 8 is a till or box for the reception of blank money-order applications, Weather forecast cards, &c.,

there being fixed upon the front wall of said till a clip 36, adapted for holding pens and pencils, while arranged within the compartment 12 above the letter-receiving box 12 is a removable lap-board 37. Fixed on the top of the casing 1 is ,a pair of spaced reinguides 38.

In practice the letters to be distributed along the route are arranged in proper order of delivery within the compartment 12 in advance of and to be acted upon by the pressure devices 23, which serve to hold them in proper position with the first letter pressed against the transparent plate 22, it being understood that as the letters are removed during delivery those remaining in the compartment will be properly fed forward by the device 23. The newspapers, Which, as heretofore explained, are arranged in the com artment 10, will, owing to the downward inc ination of the bottom 3, be prevented from accidental dislodgment owing to jolting of the vehicle and will also be maintained in proper position for their front edges to be readily grasped by the carrier, as will be readily understood,while rolls of papers and other packages may be conveniently arranged within the compartment 11 for delivery. When it is desired to disconnect the casing from the vehicle, the pairs of legs 27 28 may be swung toward each other for disengaging their lower ends from the keepers 31 34, it being under stood that a number of vehicles of various types may be equipped with the pairs of keepers, thus permitting ready changing of the casing from one vehicle to another, which it may be, owing to the conditions of the road, desirable to employ. The lap-board 37 affords a convenient rest for use in preparing money-orders, filling registered-mail receipts, &c.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view, it being understood that minor changes in the de tails herein set forth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- In a device of the class described, a letterreceiving compartment having a front transparent portion, a pressure device arranged in rear of said portion and comprising a pair of irregularly-bent springs and bearing members connecting said springs adapted to travel over the adjacent walls of the compartment.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

O. D. SoHwAB, RoBT. PEARCE. 

